Writing Companion

Writing–an activity that you can do anytime, anywhere, in any mood. You can share your writing with the world, a smaller audience, or keep it for your eyes only. What other human activity is at times so frustrating–but also so supportive and engaging?

Originally from Kansas (USA), I’ve spent most of my adult life in Australia, working in the education sector. I’m a natural at ferreting out, analysing and compiling information so it’s not surprising that I ended up with a career as an educator, researcher, writer and editor. My special interest as a linguist has been the textual and design choices that affect comprehension. For many years, I was a university professor, working in the field of technical and cross-cultural communication. I’ve written many research articles, co-authored a popular book on business writing, and run training workshops, national and internationally, to help participants understand how to make their documents readable and usable. Another interest is helping people explore having fun with their writing.

After too long a break, I’ve returned to writing fiction. It’s challenging but enjoyable. I also like reading books and blogs about writing.

If you’d like to get in touch with me, please email me at the address below.

Marsha

marsha_durham04@yahoo.com

Fiction & books I’ve loved reading fiction since childhood. One year in primary school, I won the prize for reading the most books. I was awarded a copy of Heidi –and I still have it. Over the years, I’ve tried to restrain my passion to have books and have suffered the pain of occasional major clean-outs. I now have the perfect job–organising a very special library at Varuna Writers’ House in Katoomba, New South Wales. My work there gives me access to many books that are seldom seen in bookshops and public libraries.

Favourite fiction authors Current favourites include novelists Ian McEwan, Edith Wharton, Alex Miller, Stephen King, and J. M. Coetzee, and short story writers Alice Munro, Etgar Keret, Margo Lanagan, and Cate Kennedy. I also like mystery/crime writing, from Agatha Christie to Janet Evanovich.

Pastimes I spend too much time at the computer, writing and researching. I try to balance this mental work by physical activities — keeping up a big garden, going to the gym, contorting myself in Iyengar Yoga classes, and bushwalking in my local area, the upper Blue Mountains west of Sydney. The mountain photo on my blog was taken at a favourite lookout close to home.